Sleep mode (macOS)

Our software does nothing while your computer is sleeping. That means that if you are sending a message to a list with MaxBulk Mailer and your computer goes into sleep mode, either manually or automatically, no message will be sent.

Same for the Windows Hibernation mode. If you want to let our software running unattended and processing things, make sure sleep mode is fully deactivated.

Delete temp files

As a computer runs programs, accesses web pages, and is being used in general, temporary files are being stored on the hard drive.

Deleting these temp files can help improve computer performance.

First, we suggest using Onyx(1) on macOS or the Windows Disk Cleanup(2) utility on MS Windows to delete temporary files and other files no longer needed on the computer

1.- Onyx is a tool that can help you fix problems on macOS, go to the 'Automation' panel, select all the options and click on the 'Execute' button.

Then restart your computer and check if your problem has been fixed.

2.- The MS Windows Disk Cleanup tool may not delete all of the files in the temp directory. Therefore, we also suggest deleting temporary files manually by opening the Start menu and enter %temp% in the Search field, in Windows XP and prior, click the Run option in the Start menu and enter %temp% in the Run field.

Press Enter and a Temp folder should open. You can delete all files found in this folder and if any files are in use they can be skipped).

Delete preference files

Software settings are saved to a preference file. That preference file may contain the wrong data or become corrupt over time. As a result, the software may be very slow to start, may not start at all, may perform slowly or even crash.

Note for file server users: all our software saves a list of recent documents to the preference file, including remote documents (the documents stored on a file server).

Launching the application with an unavailable file server will make the application unresponsive, apparently frozen/hanged because by loading back that list the application has to wait for timeouts.

If you use to open files from a file server, make sure it is available.

The best solution is to remove the whole preference file however since it is a plain text file, you can open it with a text editor like Notepad on Windows or TextWrangler on macOS, and modify it by hand. The file is located here:

Free hard drive space

Verify that there is at least 200-500MB of free hard drive space. This available space allows the computer to have room for the swap file to increase in size, as well as room for temporary files.

System file swapping can slow down your whole computer to a crawl, macOS and MS Windows alike.

Uninstall/Reinstall the software

Your software copy may be corrupt or not installed properly, try to replace it with a new copy.

On macOS place the software folder into the trash and select the Finder 'Empty Trash' menu.

On Windows use the uninstaller located in the software folder.

Only the software itself will be removed, not your data. Then download a fresh copy of the software here. Install the new copy as explained here.

The software should activate itself automatically so it is not necessary to enter your activation code again. If it is not the case activate it as explained here.

Bad, corrupted or fragmented hard drive

On macOS you can fully check your hard drive with Disk Utility however it is not recommended to use third parties defragmentation tools.

On MS-Windows just run ScanDisk, chkdsk, or something equivalent to verify there is nothing physically wrong with the computer's hard drive.

Run Defrag to help ensure that data is arranged in the best possible order. Use other software tools to test the hard drive for any errors by looking at the SMART of the drive.

Incorrect Disk Permissions

On macOS a permission problem can cause all kinds of issues. You can fully fix the permissions of your hard drive with Disk Utility or with the following command in the Terminal tool: 'sudo diskutil repairPermissions /'.

On Windows resetting the disk permissions of your hard drive to default values is quite complex to do, please check this page.

Scan for malware (MS Windows)

Today, especially on MS Windows systems, spyware and other malware is a big cause of many computer problems, including a slow computer.

Even if an antivirus scanner is installed on the computer, we recommend running a malware scan on the computer. Use the free version of Malwarebytes to scan your computer for malware.

Scan for viruses (MS Windows)

If your MS Windows-based computer is infected with one or more viruses, this can cause your computer to run slow.

If your computer does not have an antivirus program installed, you can run Trend Micro's free Housecall online utility to check for viruses on your computer, as well as remove them.

It is also recommended that you install an antivirus program for active protection against viruses.

Hardware conflicts (MS Windows)

Verify that the Device Manager has no conflicts. If any exist, resolve these issues as they could be the cause of your problem.

Update your Operating System

Make sure you have all the latest macOS version or Windows updates installed on the computer. If you are on the Internet when your computer is slow, make sure all browser plugins are up-to-date.

Update your drivers (MS Windows)

Make sure you have got the latest drivers for your computer, especially the latest video drivers. Having out-of-date drivers can cause an assortment of issues, including slow performance.

Reboot computer again

If you have done any of the above steps but your computer is still acting slow try rebooting the computer again at this point.

Memory upgrade

If you have had your computer for more than two years, you may need more memory. By having enough memory for programs to run within memory, your computer will not need to swap information stored within memory to the swap file.

If your computer hard drive light is constantly active, its a good indication that your computer is swapping information between your memory and hard drive because of the lack of space in memory.

Hard drive upgrade

One of the biggest bottlenecks of a computer is the hard disk drive. For anyone with a slow computer or just looking for something to upgrade in the computer to improve overall system performance, upgrading from a traditional hard drive to a Solid State Drive (SSD) will significantly improve the overall system performance.

Run registry cleaner (MS Windows)

We normally do not recommend registry cleaners. However, if you have followed all of the above steps and your computer is still slow, try running a registry cleaner on the computer.

Computer or processor is overheating

Make sure your computer and processor is not overheating. Excessive heat can cause a significant decrease in computer performance because most processors automatically reduce the speed of the processor to help compensate for heat-related issues.

Dust, dirt, and hair can also constrict proper airflow inside your computer, which can cause a computer to overheat. Make sure your computer case is clean and fans are not obstructed.

Erase computer and start over

If none of the above solutions resolve your issues, another option is to either reinstall the full operating system or erase everything and then start over.

Erasing everything and starting over can increase performance by getting rid of old software or drivers that may be on the computer and causing the computer to be slow.

Installing a fresh copy of the operating system, software programs, and the latest drivers help verify there are no software related issues causing your computer to be slow.

Hardware issues

Finally, if your computer continues to be slower than normal after going over each of the above recommendations (including erasing and starting over), it's possible that your computer is experiencing a more serious hardware related issue such as a failing component in the computer.

This could be a failing or bad hard drive, CPU, RAM, motherboard, or other components.

Old computer

If your computer is older than five years, the age of the computer could be the cause of slow performance.

Computers advance in technology and capabilities and newer, more advanced software programs come out to run properly on the new computers.

Older computers are not able to run the new programs as well, which can cause them to slow down.

If your computer is older than five years, we suggest purchasing a new computer or accept that, if all the above options do not work to speed up your computer, it will just run slower than a newer computer.

Corrupt system date settings (macOS)

A software application may crash right after you launch it, sometimes because it needs to get the operating system date.

The operating system may use a corrupt preference file and as a result, will not respond properly to date requests.

A solution is to set the system date again from 'System Preferences > Date & Time', change any setting, save, revert the change and save again.

Corrupt fonts (macOS)

A software may crash or behave notably slower because of a corrupt font. The solution is to use another font or try to see what font has a problem.

You can do that by opening the Font Book application, selecting all the Fonts and the 'File > Validate Fonts' menu.

You'll get Green, Yellow, and Red issues. The red ones usually are important and need to be dealt with.

If you want to make the most of the software that you have acquired at Maxprog, do not miss the Stan's Blog. It is a library of Tutorials and Tips covering specific features and tipical problems you may have when using our tools. This page is updated regularly depending on the topics discussed in our public forums and issues reported thru our HelpDesk. If you are interested on what we are currently working on (or want to participate in beta testings) don't miss the Stan's Logbook.

For years, MAX Programming has provided companies around the globe with sophisticated and innovative solutions. Our commitment to quality is not only evident in our products, but also in our people. It is our mission in Professional Support Services to ensure that our products perform to the fullest of their ability in order to meet the business objectives of our customers. We provide the tools and information required for improved productivity. To accomplish this, we offer an array of services including: Technical Support, Education Services and Consulting Services.